From Cozy Crafts to Forest Tales: Inside the Heart of Thistle Fox Books

Jan 25
3 min read

Updated: Mar 1

At Thistle Fox Books, every story starts at home — in the rhythm of family life, the warmth of handmade creativity, and the joy of sharing screen-free moments together.

What began with a basket of felt critters and a backyard full of children has blossomed into a cozy, family-run bookshop — writing, illustrating, and crafting stories that feel like they wandered in from the edge of an enchanted forest.

It All Started With Poppy — Mama, Maker, Storyteller

Poppy Loxley didn’t plan to start a bookshop. She just loved teaching, crafting, and telling stories. A retired educator and lifelong knitter, she filled her home with yarn, picture books, and quiet creativity.

But word spread. Children from all over the neighborhood started showing up to make pinecone pots, acorn cups, and hand-stitched critters in cloaks and caps.

These weren’t just crafts — they were gateways to magical places made from imagination, nature, and love.

As her children grew older, the creativity didn’t disappear — it grew with them. Her daughters — Emily, Sophie, and Rachel — picked up their own tools: pencils, cameras, and a shared vision for building something that stayed true to their roots.

Today, Poppy still writes from her sunroom in the Midwest, with her dachshund curled at her feet and the oak tree outside that once shaded their picnics, tea parties, and fox-filled tales. That tree still stands tall — listening quietly as new stories are born.

The Next Generation: Meet the Daughters Behind the Dream

Two young sisters playing with arts and crafts in a sunlit kichen setting.

While Poppy continues to write and dream up new tales, her daughters bring those ideas to life — from their homes nestled in the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest.

They’re the engine behind the magic at Thistle Fox — designing books, creating videos, and managing the details in between school runs, baby naps, and many cups of tea.

“We grew up stitching foxes and hosting woodland tea parties with our mom. Now we get to share those same stories with families around the world — just with more coffee involved.”

— The Daughters of Thistle Fox

sisters in a warm embrace in a sunny forest. — Emily, Rachel & Sophie

Meet the Team:

Emily – Layout Artist & Video Creator

Brings rhythm and warmth to each book and short film. Known for editing with a toddler in one arm and tea in the other.

Rachel – Writer & Digital Voice

The voice behind our blog, socials, and thank-you cards. Keeps readers feeling part of the Thistle Fox circle.

Sophie – Critter Cinematographer

Leads our personalized video greetings and stop-motion magic. Gets every fox nose wiggle just right.

Friends Who Became Family

Anwyn Brooks — The Forest Storyteller of Oregon

A kindred spirit of the daughters, Anwyn’s YA stories drift through themes of magic, memory, and mossy forest wonder — perfect for thoughtful older readers. She writes like fog rolling through trees — quiet, mysterious, unforgettable.

Chelsea Torres — The Dachshund Dreamer from California

Chelsea, a close family friend with a big heart for animals (and a very small dog named Milo), crafts our dachshund coloring books. They're packed with wagging tails, goofy pup expressions, and lots of screen-free fun.

Rooted in Family. Grown with Care.

Oak tree that symobolizes where Thistle Fox Books started their famiy run bookshop. — The oak tree that shaded a hundred stories — and still does.

At Thistle Fox Books, we stay small on purpose.

Because stories told in close circles have power — and every book we send out is touched by someone in the family.

That means:

Every book is crafted with care
Every package includes a handwritten note
Every customer becomes part of our storytelling circle

This isn’t just a business. It’s a continuation of afternoons spent stitching foxes, making moss fairy houses, and imagining whole worlds beneath the branches of an old oak tree.

The family may live across coasts and time zones now, but the oak still stands — strong, quiet, and rooted in the stories that started it all.